who will hold a briefing on another topic, he'll be talking about syria. but there is a vote going on on the senate floor a vote on the russia trade bill, that's under way. it may postpone senator mccain's comments just a bit. you heard senator reid, leader reid, asked about the resignation of jim demint who announced he's resigning to take over the conservative think tank the heritage foundation. he'll resign effective january 1. he was first elected to the senate in 2004. the senate is in today. they're voting on the russia trade bill. they have a couple of judicial nominations as well, after that, the -- legislatively that ought to do it for the senate. we're staying live here in the senate radio and tv gallery, expecting senator john mccain to come out shortly for a briefing. later at about 1:30, we'll take you live to a conference looking a at the arab spring and nuclear proliferation and later at 4:30 here in washington, the lighting of the national christmas tree, that's coming up for you this afternoon on c-span. the senate is in, votes under way o